The history of Super Sport Chevys

Chevrolet SS is a legendary name, and here's how it came about

In 1956, a few years after the car had entered production, Chevrolet unveiled a show car based on the C1 Corvette called the Corvette Super Sport. In 1957, the company debuted their Corvette SS, which was a custom-built race car. It was the first Chevrolet to wear the SS badge.

By 1961, with the SS name having gained some prominence on the Corvette, Chevrolet launched the SS “kit,” which was a sport and appearance package. It could be added to any Chevrolet Impala that year for an extra $53.80. That gave the car some interior and exterior SS trim, stronger shocks, power brakes, and whitewall tires. Of the 491,000 Impalas sold that first year, only 453 had the SS package.

As the kit grew in popularity, Chevrolet brought it on to other models throughout its range. It offers these cars offer more power and an upgraded body, as well as appearance upgrades.

Incredible Cars

Some iconic cars have had SS versions. The Camaro, the Chevelle, and the Monte Carlo all famously have SS models. But there have also been SS variants of trucks and some unusual vehicles. The S10 pickup offered an SS kit, and there was a Silverado Intimidator SS.

The wildest is likely the Trailblazer SS, which is the only super sports package SUV. It offered incredible increases in performance and handling. It is, perhaps, the best example of a sleeper car.

A Model Itself

Chevrolet created a concept in 2003 called simply the SS that was “a modern interpretation of Chevrolet’s Super Sport heritage.” The brand never intended it to reach production, and it was only intended as a showcase of Chevrolet contemporary design.

In 2014, though, Chevrolet sold the SS as its own model in the US. It was based on the Australian Holden Commodore.